Restaurants / May 03, 2023
¡Viva la Cocina!
From roadside diners to downtown drive-ins, ancestral haciendas to mom-and-pop cafés, New Mexico’s iconic restaurants tell tales. For generations…
By Lynn Cline / Photos by Douglas Merriam
Restaurants / May. 17, 2023
Everyone is Family at El Paragua
Olga Garcia lets her mother’s recipes and techniques guide her cooking at El Paragua.
Restaurants / May. 03, 2023
Socorro's Restaurant Is Deliciously Simple
Socorro Herrera operates her namesake restaurant in the home where she was born.
Restaurants / May. 24, 2023
Feel the Love at Hi-D-Ho
Mika Myers, owner of Alamogordo’s Hi-D-Ho Drive-In, understands what it means to be…
Restaurants / May. 10, 2023
El Camino is Here to Serve
Wanita Jones went from waitress to owner of El Camino Family Restaurant.
New Mexican Food / May 31, 2023
5 New Mexico Dishes We Crave
We daydream about these exemplary only-in-NM delights. Here’s where to get them.
-
DURAN CENTRAL PHARMACY
AlbuquerqueTry this: Duran’s famous flour tortillas are made behind the lunch counter while you watch. “We’ve always made the tortillas to order, by hand,” says Mona Ghattas, a pharmacist and owner of Duran Central Pharmacy. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1942.
Region: Central.
Price: $$.
duransrx.com
EL BRUNO’S RESTAURANT Y CANTINA
CubaTry this: The Combination Picante ($16.99), with an enchilada, tamale, taco, beans, and rice, lets you try a variety of El Bruno’s delicious fare. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1975.
Region: Central.
Price: $$.
elbrunonm.com
FRONTIER RESTAURANT
AlbuquerqueTry this: Based on the Texas-favorite Manske rolls, the Frontier sweet rolls ($2.75) are baked fresh daily. “It’s still one of our signature items,” says Dorothy Rainosek, who owns the Frontier with her husband, Larry. —Julian Dossett
Founded: 1971.
Region: Central.
Price: $.
frontierrestaurant.com
MARY & TITO’S
AlbuquerqueTry this: The Carne Adovada Turnover with green chile ($8.50) draws from Tito’s love of Italian food. “It’s like a stuffed sopaipilla but on steroids,” says Antoinette, the original owner's daughter. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1963.
Region: Central.
Price: $.
maryandtitoscafeabq.com
PETE’S CAFE
BelénTry this: “Our customers always mention how much they love our chile rellenos ($11.50),” says owner's daughter Marie Torres. Made with a bread-crumb batter instead of the traditional egg batter, they’re a crispy delight with every bite. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1949.
Region: Central.
Price: $.
petescafenewmexico.com -
BIBO BAR & GRILLE
BiboTry this: To eat like a local, go straight for the hot wings. “They’re fried crispy with Buffalo sauce,” says Maria Kanesta, the bar and restaurant manager. “They speak for themselves.” —Karen Fischer
Founded: 2007.
Region: Northwest.
Price: $.
facebook.com/bibobar
EARL’S FAMILY RESTAURANT
GallupTry this: Fried zucchini. The serving is so generous, you may not even need an entree. —Karen Fischer
Founded: 1947.
Region: Northwest.
Price: $$.
nmmag.us/earls
JERRY’S CAFE
GallupTry this: Jerry’s Burger ($7.75). “It’s been made the same since my dad,” says owner Archie Baca. “The only thing I did was go to a bigger patty.” —Karen Fischer
Founded: 1976.
Region: Northwest.
Price: $$.
nmmag.us/jerryscafe -
BUCKHORN SALOON AND OPERA HOUSE
Pinos AltosTry this: The green chile stew ($15). “You can’t go wrong with that,” says Amy Wright, sous chef at the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House. —Jennifer C. Olson
Founded: 1865.
Region: Southwest.
Price: $$$$.
buckhornsaloonandoperahouse.com
DOUBLE EAGLE
MesillaTry this: Center-cut grande filet mignon ($46). “People rave over our filet mignon,” owner C.W. “Buddy” Ritter says. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1973.
Region: Southwest.
Price: $$$$.
doubleeagleonline.com
LA POSTA DE MESILLA
MesillaTry this: The cucumber-jalapeño margarita ($10.95), made with New Mexico honey and rimmed with crushed local pecans. —Jennifer C. Olson
Founded: 1939.
Region: Southwest.
Price: $$.
lapostademesilla.com
THE ORIGINAL OWL BAR & CAFÉ
San AntonioTry this: Duh! You’re here for the green chile cheeseburger ($6.50), made from hand-ground all-beef patties topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and a “secret” green chile sauce. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1945.
Region: Southwest.
Price: $$.
sanantonioowl.com -
CHARLIE’S BAKERY & CAFE
Las VegasTry this: “The secret to everything is the tortillas,” says owner Charlie Sandoval, who based the thick, fluffy flour disks on his mother’s recipe. Try a hot buttered one with whatever you order, then take a dozen ($6.99) home for later. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1950.
Region: Northeast.
Price: $$.
charliesbakeryandcafe.com
DEL’S RESTAURANT
TucumcariTry this: Long-time server Renee Gutierrez’s favorite: beef chimichangas ($15.99). —Gregory R.C. Hasman
Founded: 1956.
Region: Northeast.
Price: $$.
facebook.com/delsrestaurant
JOSEPH’S BAR & GRILL
Santa RosaTry this: The calzone ($9.99) comes with stuffings ranging from pepperoni and sausage to green chile and jalapeño. —Gregory R.C. Hasman
Founded: 1956.
Region: Northeast.
Price: $$. josephsbarandgrill.com
PAPPAS’ SWEET SHOP
RatónTry this: The chicken salad sandwich. On the menu since the beginning, it is still made with the same bread recipe. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1923.
Region: Northeast.
Price: $.
nmmag.us/pappas -
EL FAROLITO
El RitoTry this: “Our Farolito Burger [$5.50, with chile, cheese, and bacon] is part of the local lexicon,” Chef Dominic says. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1983.
Region: North Central.
Price: $.
facebook.com/MarisolTrujilloPerry
HORSEMAN’S HAVEN
Santa FeTry this: Huevos rancheros ($12.95) are served smothered in chile atop a blue corn tortilla with a warm flour tortilla. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1960.
Region: North Central.
Price: $$.
facebook.com/horsemans.haven
LA COCINA
EspañolaTry this: Jessie’s Combination ($15) showcases a beef enchilada, cheese enchilada, pork tamale, beans, and posole, smothered in red and/or green chile and cheese. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1970.
Region: North Central.
Price: $$.
lacocinanewmexico.com
MICHAEL’S KITCHEN
TaosTry this: Any dish with chile. “It’s northern New Mexico chile,” says owner Derek Apodaca. —Lynn Cline
Founded: 1974.
Region: North Central.
Price: $$.
michaelskitchen.com
RANCHO DE CHIMAYÓ
ChimayóTry this: A plate of chile rellenos ($17.95), with plump calabacitas and savory Spanish rice. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1965.
Region: North Central.
Price: $$.
ranchodechimayo.com
TIA SOPHIA’S
Santa FeTry this: Maryol likes the simplicity of Sophia’s Sandwich ($12), ham and melted cheddar served open face on a tortilla. —Molly Boyle
Founded: 1975.
Region: North Central.
Price: $$.
facebook.com/tiasophias -
FOXY DRIVE-IN
ClovisTry this: Taquitas (99 cents) are made by hand daily and served with in-house red sauce. “We’ve shipped them to Arkansas, Dallas—just all over the place,” says owner Chris Bryant, whose father, A.C., founded the Clovis spot in the 1950s.
Founded: 1956.
Region: Southeast.
Price: $$.
facebook.com/foxydriveinclovis
PIONEER STEAK HOUSE
LovingtonTry this: Terrie’s favorite is the perfectly cooked sirloin ($9.45 for six ounces and $10.75 for eight ounces) with a baked potato. —Gregory R.C. Hasman
Founded: 1968.
Region: Southeast.
Price: $$.
nmmag.us/pioneersteakhouse
TACO BOX
ClovisTry this: Frijole Burrito ($6.79 meal). “We make our beans fresh every day, and we make our own spices,” says Thomas Martin, who runs Taco Box. —Julian Dossett
Founded: 1969.
Region: Southeast.
Price: $.
tacobox.com